Former Syracusan volunteered on private hospital ship in Sierra Leone

Mike Greenlar/The Post-StandardMelissa Warner 32, a former nurse serving on Mercy Ship in Sierra Leon, now works at Greyrock Farms in Cazenovia. She worked as an ICU nurse on Mercy Ship from Feb. thru May 2011.

Name: Melissa Warner Age: 32 Home: Originally from Marathon, lived in Syracuse for several years, currently living in Cazenovia Occupation: Registered nurse, formerly employed by Upstate University Hospital, currently working at Greyrock Farms in Cazenovia Education: Binghamton University, Decker School of Nursing Why she is in the news: Served for three months as an intensive care unit nurse on the world’s largest private hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, caring for the poor in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

When Melissa Warner traveled to West Africa to volunteer on the world’s largest private hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, she didn’t know what to expect. A few months later, she reflects on what she says was a humbling and life-altering journey.

Warner, a registered nurse, assisted pediatric patients in the intensive care unit on the ship.

“It was difficult to wrap my head around the way people live — shacks, poverty, overcrowded conditions, no infrastructure and kids everywhere,” she said recently. “It was a culture shock. I know poverty exists, but I’ve never been immersed in it. I knew it would affect me and be good for me.”

Mercy Ships operates Africa Mercy, the floating hospital serving the poor in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The crew provides free health care to thousands of people in the region including corrective surgeries like cleft lip and palate, tumor removal and orthopedics.

Working as a nurse at Upstate University Hospital at the time, Warner learned of the opportunity through friends and considered it a good fit for her personality and skill.

“I thought it was interesting. I’ve traveled a lot and I like to try new things,” Warner said. “And, it brings health care to Third World countries in a unique way, providing technology that we have available here but they do not, like CT scans and X-rays.

“I thought about it a lot,” she said. “It wasn’t an easy decision. I took a leave of absence from my job. But I ultimately thought, ‘we are fortunate here in the United States, and I have practical skills that can help people in great ways.’”

Warner raised her own money to pay for the trip, relying primarily on her personal savings and the generosity of family and friends.

In February, she began her volunteer adventure. The first few weeks of her trip were consumed by setting up the hospital aboard the ship to make it patient-ready. The crew unpacked, sterilized and prepared medical supplies for use. Once the hospital was established, Warner and her crewmates from around the world — including Australia, Denmark, Canada, Germany and Norway — rotated 40- to 50-hour shifts each week caring for patients. Most cases were post-operative follow-up and rehabilitation.

Warner worked on a ward where all ages were mixed together. For the first time in her career, she cared for children, which she said was both a touching and learning experience.

“I cared for one little boy, 4 years old in the pediatric ICU, who came in with his lower jaw significantly smaller and underdeveloped than his upper jaw,” Warner recalled. “The surgeon did a corrective procedure that transplanted a section from his rib to reform the jaw. Now his jaw can continue to grow forward. It improved his appearance and helped him to no longer be an outcast in his community.”

She said she worked with the boy to avoid post-operative complications.

“He was the first pediatric ICU patient I ever took care of,” Warner said. “It was a little unnerving — different from adults. He did very well.”

The child was referred to a local physician and will have intense follow-up and therapy. She also helped teach his mother how to care for him to ensure continued progress.

“That child stole my heart and if there was anything I could have done to improve his life I would have,” Warner said. “The hardest part was to let go. But I know he will have a significantly better life because of what we did.”

Mercy Ships have operated hospitals since 1978 and been the sites for more than 56,000 operations, such as cleft lips and palates repairs, cataract removal, straightening of
crossed eyes, orthopedic work and facial reconstruction. Medical volunteers have treated more than 520,000 patients in village medical and dental clinics in 53 developing nations and 17 developed nations. They’ve educated about 29,000 local health care workers, who continue to train thousands in primary health care.

“Our volunteers are the core of what we do here at Mercy Ships” said Claire Bufe, marketing manager for Mercy Ships. “Without people like Melissa, we would not be able to go into developing nations and transform lives. We perform life-changing surgeries with an all-volunteer crew — they are the heart and soul of our mission.”

Warner, who lived for years in Syracuse, currently resides in Cazenovia where she helps out at a local farm.

“She’s incredibly hard working and committed to whatever she does,” said Matt Volz, manager of Greyrock Farm. ’’She loves the animals and has become the farm nurse to all of them.”